gay

Melanie Hoffert grew up on a farm in North Dakota. Like so many others, she left. But now she feels torn between the land and people she loves and the freedom to live an authentic life. Host Charity Nebbe talks with Hoffert about her memoir Prairie Silence: A Rural Ex-Patriot's Journey to Reconcile, Home, Love and Faith. In that book, she describes the month she returned to her family farm to help her father and brother during harvest. They also discuss what it was like to grow up as a gay woman in rural North Dakota.

Just last year BSA reaffirmed its policy that gay members and gay or lesbian leaders are prohibited from participation. However, now the BSA is considering revising that policy so that each local chapter can individually decide its policy on gay membership. Ben Kieffer talks with Iowa Eagle Scout Zach Wahls, who is one of the national leaders encouraging the Boy Scouts to be more inclusive.

Some high-profile Republicans are saying it’s time to “let go” of one battle in the culture wars — the fight against same-sex marriage.

David Kochel was an advisor to 2012 GOP nominee Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign. Kochel says he wants to begin a conversation about changing the Republican Party’s idea of family values.

“I like to think of it as my Republican values, and my conservative values—being pro-marriage, pro-family, and believing in intact families as the best place to give children a hope for the future,” he says.

Same sex marriage is legal in Iowa and it appears to be gaining acceptance. A Supreme Court justice who was part of the ruling that paved the way for same-sex marriage was retained in a heated campaign this year. But advocates for gay teens say bullying is still a problem in schools.

All this week we've been hearing what it's like to come out to family and friends, or deal with bullying as part of "Being Gay in Iowa." Host Ben Kieffer talks with four Iowans who share their experiences with these issues and more... from running for political office as an openly gay candidate, to being put in the spotlight as part of the battle over same sex marriage. Guests include Nate Monson, Executive Director of Iowa Safe Schools; Sharon Malheiro, Chair of One Iowa; Kate Varnum, plaintiff in Varnum v.

Today, Iowa Public Radio continues its series “Being Gay in Iowa.” Many same-sex couples have children. Some had them while in opposite-sex marriages before coming out. Others are becoming parents through sperm donors or adoption. What is life like for these kids who were raised in homes that are out-of-the-norm? Reporter Rob Dillard introduces us to some young people whose family life made them a curiosity while growing up.

Today, Iowa Public Radio continues its week-long series “Being Gay in Iowa.” It’s often a tumultuous experience when young people acknowledge they’re gay. It opens them up for teasing and downright bullying from classmates. In part-four of our series, reporter Rob Dillard looks into what’s being done in Iowa to protect gay students from the taunts of their peers.

Today we have Part Three of our week-long series “Being Gay in Iowa.” Often, the most emotionally stressful time in a gay person’s life is when they come out to their family and friends. The announcement is so difficult for many, they don’t make it until middle age, after they’ve been married and raised children. It’s getting easier for younger gays, who are coming out in high school or even before. Iowa Public Radio’s Rob Dillard met with a number of gay Iowans to find out what it was like to step out of the closet.

Today we continue our exploration of what it means to be gay in Iowa. Members of various faith communities approach questions surrounding gay lifestyles from widely different perspectives. Some church leaders were quite vocal in protesting the Iowa Supreme Court ruling that allowed same-sex couples to marry. Others were among the first clergy to lead marriage ceremonies for gays and lesbians as soon as they were able. Iowa Public Radio’s Rob Dillard looks into the divide among religions on matters of gay rights.

Iowa Public Radio today returns to its ongoing series “Being in Iowa.” This week we look into what it means to be gay in Iowa. The most recent poll to gather public sentiment about same-sex marriage taken a year ago shows more Iowans oppose it than support it – but by a narrow margin, 38 to 34 percent. Almost as many people – 30 percent – say they don’t care one way or the other. Iowa Public Radio’s Rob Dillard revisits attitudes toward gay marriage nearly three years after the Iowa Supreme Court ruled it legal.